Although South Korea is known to be a group-oriented society, Koreans strangely lack coordination and cooperation. Take for example our weather updates: The Korea Meteorological Administration handles forecasts about weather and yellow dust from China while the Ministry of Environment issues ultrafine dust warnings. When I check online, the weather forecast page predicts “a gorgeous, sunny day perfect for family outings,” but the ultrafine dust information page cautions that I should, “refrain from going out because of high concentration of ultrafine dust particulates.” These kinds of contradictions and inaccuracies, which are quite common in Korea, will often leave you baffled.

Likewise, whenever the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism tries to promote Korean culture, including Korean food, clothes and architecture, as part of hallyu, it has to negotiate with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Once again, we can see that lack of coordination seriously hampers efficiency.

When you file a grievance with an institution, you are likely to hear the following response: “We are not responsible for this. File your grievance with so-and-so institution.” The tendency to relinquish one’s responsibility to another, like a ping-pong ball flying to-and-fro across the net, is still rampant in Korea. We frequently hear lines like, “This is my jurisdiction” or “I’ll take the responsibility” in American TV shows. In Korea, however, you frequently hear, “This is not our jurisdiction” or “We’re not responsible for it.”

The same thing holds true for our foreign policy. Our previous governments proudly declared that South Korea would become the hub of Northeast Asia, acting as a mediator between China and Japan. Unfortunately, however, neither China nor Japan seemed to acknowledge Korea as a mediator or the hub of Northeast Asia, partly because we seriously lacked the ability to coordinate and partly because they simply ignored us. Thus, the Korean government’s project ended up being nothing but a pipe dream.

Today, South Korea faces yet another crisis that will test her ability to coordinate. As is well-known, South Korea is presently walking a tightrope between the United States and China. The former wants to deploy THAAD missile defense batteries in Korea to protect U.S. forces from a possible nuclear missile attack by North Korea, whereas the latter does not want to see it happen, assuming that THAAD will put China under American surveillance.

The present situation demands a delicate balancing act from Korea to avoid being caught in the crossfire. Nevertheless, we can turn this crisis into an advantage. First, we can demand that China exert its influence over North Korea to eliminate the threat of nuclear attack once and for all if they do not want to see THAAD deployed in South Korea. If China does not comply with our demand, it means that China does not care about our national security and we cannot but allow the U.S. to deploy THAAD to protect us. In that sense, our Department of National Defense did the right thing when it declared that no neighboring country was entitled to interfere in our internal affairs and national security. Besides, we can use the pressure from the States, if any, as leverage when dealing with China.

By the same token, we can demand the States to deploy THAAD at its own expense, because its primary purpose is to protect deployed U.S. soldiers and military bases in Korea. Alternatively, we can minimize the financial burden and pay a nominal amount, using the pressure from China as leverage. Instead of whining that we are caught in the crossfire, we can maximize our geopolitical advantage. Like the smart rabbit that survives and thrives by skillfully manipulating an elephant and a whale in the famous Korean fairy tale, we should be wise and bold.

Many Koreans wonder why controversial Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is allowed to deliver a speech at Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Perhaps Japan was lucky because the States now needs Japan as a useful ally to restrain China from expanding its influence over Asia, especially when Korea seems to lean toward China and acts dubiously. Indeed, Koreans should know that the States favors Japan, while China sides with North Korea. South Korea will be alone and alienated if she keeps sitting on the fence timidly.

On the other hand, if we support China and object to the deployment of THAAD, the States may want to pull out its troops because Americans do not want their young soldiers to be exposed to a nuclear threat from North Korea. That would very well give rise to another Korean War, and this time no rescuers will come to South Korea’s aid. If that is the case, THAAD is a must for us, regardless of the cost.

Coordination is the key not only for our survival but also for our prosperity. We need to learn the art of the balancing act, which is as important as the art of war.

By Kim Seong-kon

Kim Seong-kon is a professor emeritus of English at Seoul National University and president of the Literature Translation Institute of Korea. ― Ed.